Florence Ramona or Clara Matilda? Your views please!

[RookieMama]

Hi all,

This is my first foray into MN posting (after much reading!). We're 1.5 weeks from due date and still undecided on names if our little one is a girl. So I'd really welcome your views about the two we have narrowed it down to - Clara Matilda or Florence Ramona? Our surname goes with either, we're looking for something not too popular, classic with some history to it but with a bit of 'edge' too. Honest reactions please, this is our only way of testing it out in the real world! Thanks in advance!

I love Ramona, I like Florence and Matilda, Clara is ok.

Oh hmmm come to think of it Clara sounds as if it might be Latin in origin?

I love the names Florence and Malitda most.

I would use Ramona if you don't want popular
Matilda and Florence are both top 100 names, I know several of both
Clara is top 200 and has been steadily climbing for years
Ramona isn't even top 1000 yet
They are all nice names but Ramona Florence would have the edge for me

I love Matilda, with the option to use Tilly as a nickname

Matilda and Florence are neither unpopular nor edgy, we come across loads of both.

Clara and Ramona are both pretty but strong imo but I wouldn't have 2 names that both end in "a" sound.

My choice would be Ramona Florence

I love love love Clara, it's beautiful, classy and like a princess name. I sort of equate with Anastasia but it's less flamboyant.

Clara Matilda is a bit of a mouthful, but it's very rare that middle name and first name get said all in one go so that's probably not too much of a problem.

Ramona as her first name (I am biased though as I have one).

We chose it as it as we wanted a strong, definitely not frilly, slightly quirky but not silly name. I also think it's beautiful for all ages so won't seem out of place when she's all grown up. I only know of one other, a friend of a friend of a friend's daughter. We've never had any one ask about Spanish connections.

It has lots of potential for great nicknames too, although she gets called Ramona most of the time she is also... Romy, Rae, Mona, Raime, Mo, Mo-Mo, The Mo-bot! I wasn't keen on Mona as a shortening to begin with but it's grown on me so I don't mind if people use it some times now... I think of Mona Lisa rather than moany Mona now.

Have I sold it to you yet?

The only down side is that it's not a name people generally seem to love when they ask what her name is!

Clara Matilda
I'm a bit bored of Florence tbh. I hear it EVERYWHERE. I do like the nns Florrie or Flossie though.
I LOVE Clara. It's beautiful. It would be on my list for a future dd but it sounds a bit rhymey with the surname :(

To be fair I'd avoid Florence as well, even though I do like the name. It didn't even cross my mind that it's DC's daughter's name but now that I remember that it would definitely put me off. I wouldn't want to be one of 'those' parents - No George, Kate, Pippa, William, Harry, Florence, etc for me...

Sorry to be contrary, but I agree with a few PP who said Clara Florence or Florence Matilda. Florence Clara is lovely too. All very nice indeed.

I don't like Ramona really at all. Are you a Bob Dylan fan by any chance? That's what I always think of! Love Bob Dylan, just don't really like the name!

Florence and Matilda are very popular, and Clara is catching up (possibly due to the Dr. Who link?). Ramona's the least popular (as in the number of people using it), but also my least favourite. So basically, I'm no help whatsoever x

Clara Florence or Ramona Florence. I think Matilda is a lovely name but it doesn't work well with Clara and Florence is a bit too popular and dare I say trendy.

Happyzapper you have the most beautiful name.

I like all of them but am personally swerving Florence and Matilda as they are really growing in popularity.

Really don't like Ramona. Love all of your other names!

Thanks for all your reactions, it's such a big help to be able to try the names out and get some honest views before we commit!

Happy zapper - what a beautiful name you have!

Any more thoughts welcomed!

Clara ramona. We have a Clara so I am biased !!! Lots if people say they love her name. Suits a quiet girly girl or a loud boisterous one

I have a Clara and we've had nothing but compliments.

I think I like Clara Florence the best from your options.

Florence Ramona is lovely!

Of all the choices i would go for Florence Matilda

Not keen on Ramona at all, sorry. I agree with the PP who said it sounds quite masculine.

Florence has definitely become more popular, but I only know that from hearing everyone saying it on here. That's not the case at all where I live.

I think the David Cameron connection makes some people avoid it like the hills!

like the plague, or run for the hills !!

If we're talking preferences then I have to admit I'm not keen on Ramona either. But that shouldn't matter to you, OP. If you love it then go for it

Lovely names :-)

Only thing I would say (and someone's probably said it already, if so, sorry!) is that "Clara" is the new Doctor Who companion and the names of those do tend to shoot up in popularity so just be aware that although relatively uncommon now there will more than likely be LOADS running around in a couple of years!

Florence is also nice but I do know a couple so perhaps more popular than you think?

The only Ramona I can think of is the little actress in Outnumbered haha and she's ace, or at least her character is!

Matilda I LOVE and would have been one of my top ones if there wasn't already one in the (albeit distant) family.

I like Florance a lot!! but not Ramona(( maybe other MD? Florance Penelope, Evangeline, Amber, Elodie, Aster, Vivienne